The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-01
How the Insane Hospital Trustees Dis
eliminated in Letting Contracts.
Buying Maggoty Butter at Higher Price
Than Less Favored Dealer offered to
Sell the Best Quality for.
Experts Testify that the Hospital Boil
ers Arc in Dangerous Condition.
The Bad Iron Purchased by the Trustees
Full of Patched Holes-An Explosion
Likely to Occur at Any Time.

The House committees investigation of the
Hospital for the Insane was resumed at o'clock
yesterday morning, the first witness called being
Col. James H Shannon.
Colonel Shannon testified that he had been
captain, major and lieutenant-colonel in the
Twentieth Indiana and colonel of the One-hun-
dred- aud thirty eighth Indiana. Had been a
book keeper nearly all his life, except the time
he was in the army. and eight years when clerk
of LaPorte county. He had been book keeper
at least eighteen yenrs He testified that he had
examined the books and papers of the Hospital
for the Insane-ledger, journal. day book, vouch-
ers and invoics-books.
Questionable you find the amount of liabilities in
the books at the close of the fiscal year ending Octo
Der, 1862
Answer-There were some items I could not exact
ly get at that did rot include.
Q.-Can you show the amount of liabilities as
shown in the books at that time the sum totall
A.-The books show So OPS. 81.
Q.What do you find it to be, as the result of your
examinations?
A.-$1O, 669.45.
AS curiosity in this connection, the report
of the trustees of the Hospital for the Insane,
submitted to the Governor and printed, is made
to show AN UNEXPENDED BALANCE for the fiscal
year ending Oct 81, 1886. Of $l3,243. SO. not
withstanding this liability unearthed by the ex
pert and which, because Of the difficulties under
which he has worked and briefness of time, does
not probably give all the liabilities.
The next witness was Arthur Jordan. dealer
IN butter, eggs and poultry Although bust
ness competitor of John E. Sullivan. produce
dealer and county clerk, Mr.. Jordans memory
when tested, was found not to be of the "Idon't-
know" and 'I-cannot-recollect" variety. He
testified that he had been in the produce bust
ness in this city for ten years.
Question-You may state whether not you have
examined the butter contracts for butter furnished
under accepted bids to the Insane Hospital.
Answer-Yes. SIR have.
Q.-Covering what periodi
A.-Beginning with November 63. TO and includ-
ing December, 1856.
Q.-During that period manv times have you
put in bids!
Al think have bid every time with possibly one
exceptions.
Q.-How many times have you been successful
Al have had the contract four months.
Q.-Who else during that period has received con-
Al. r. Budd for fourteen months John E. Sulli.
van sixteen months Krauss six months Jordan four
months. l think those ali the people in forty
months.
Q.-During this period you may state any facts you
know where butter has been furnished the asylum
that was not up to contract
Al know that butter have examined at various
times at the institution. furnished by other parties
has been a very inferior grade of country butter.
Early in the month of July, IS, I had the contract
went there early in that month with the first load of
butter my contract. Sullivan had had the contract
for June Ny bid for June was 10 cents for butter
and II cents for eggs. The contract awarded to
Sullivan at 20 cents for butter and ID cents for
a difference OF 1870 in my favor. It was explained
to by Mr. Hall that the contract let to Sulli-
van in order to get particularly fine grade of cream
cry butter. When went early in July with my first
load of butter went out to what they had been
using, and asked Mr., Hall to let what they had
on hand from the previous month. noticed a large
amount of butter stacked up in the refrge rator. We
opened several tubs. and made careful examination.
fancy names on the tubs. They had J. f. Sullivan
monogram the side. It was very inferior gr ade
of country butter, worth or cents the eket.
There were about thousand pounds of it. L asked
Hall why he permitted bidder to put in butter
to long time the following month when
they already had my contract
Q.-Do you know of any times when you have been
the lowest bidder and have not received the contraca
A.-Suvan's contract for june was 20 cents fol
was for $500 pounds of choice butter at 10
pound; 1000 dozen fresh eggs II cents; 500 pounds
of chickens at 9 cents pound. That was my bid for
t,.at month That bid that month was $3.50 les,
than Sullivan's contract was let to him. That was
June. 1885. At other times when examin ed. butte,
furnished twice by j. R. Budd. once by Sullivan
Q.-After delivery in nice shape and up to contract
and put in ice-house how long will it keep sweets
ALI cream cry. and up to requisition it should
keep fectly good and for table for four or five
months. and country butter should keep sweet for
month or two.
O-What about the difficulty of getting four thou
sand pounds of fine butter!
A-There is no time when there could not be ar
ample supply-four thousand pounds or more-of FINE
butter in this market. On occasion Mr.. Hall wa
in the store bringing in of vouchers. lie sale
the quality they getting at the asylum very
poor again and asked if they couldn't get any good
said he knew what it was that they had used larg
amount Of it at the asylum. asked him why then il
the winter slime he didn't make the requision for but
terne. He said it wouldn't do; that public opinion
wouldn't support contract of that kind He said h
didn't whether it butterne butter so lonl
as there was no com plant in the wards.
Chairman Grose-Let Mr.. Jordan state VIII at hi
| bids
Witness-There are some Of the figures that vii
not be shown by the bids. Thirteen Of nv bids hav
not been shown to this committee and have bee,
| suppresscd-not delivered to this committee. B,
reference to contracts at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum
at the Insane Hospital have had statements from
| Mr.. Hall that YVES frequently the lowest bidder a
the Insane Hospital. have reason to believe that
was lowest the ten contracts which not shown
| In February 1884, my bid % cents for butte
and 20 cents for eggs in November, 1884. my bid
| butter 26 cents and % cents on eggs Their
was 800 difference in favor of my bid that month
| December, 1884. my bid for butter was "a cents
eggs "a cents-$7O in my favor; January, 1885 bi
on the contract. In August. 1885 bid 1s cents 70
butter and II cents for eggs-S225 below the price
which the contract was awarded
Mr.. Wesner-You never saw any choice creamer
| butter therel
Witness-No sir; never saw any choice creamer
butter furnished the asylum except that furnished
myself also have that statement from the officer
| there. saw the butter supplied four different o.
| casons. The first time examined it was on the L:
| of September of 1884.
| Q.-Who got the bid for that MONTH
| Al had the contract for September. That bi
| for August was J. R. Budds. He furnished the A,
| gust contract.
Q.-What are your politics?
| Al am q Republican; am not politician
Q.-Have you not contributed money for politics
purposes!
Al have never contributed dollar for polite;
/ campaign. Perhaps have neglected my duty in ths
| respect.
| Mr.. Grifiths-I viii ask you Mr.. Sullivan--I be
pardon; if you Mr.. Sullivan you would say 20
could not recolect-which is better deliver butte
in small quantities at once and have it placed in Il
i - 41.l